This coming Friday will see Juno Award winner Tara Slone and the rest of the Rogers Hometown Hockey crew at the rink, as the Panthers host the Kerry Park Islanders. First intermission entertainment will be an act involving juggling flaming hockey sticks. Some of the footage will be part of the Rogers Hometown Hockey broadcast Sunday afternoon.

On Family Day, Feb. 18, the Cats will don their specially designed third jersey as the welcome the visiting Saanich Braves for their annual Peninsula Minor Hockey Association (PMHA)/Fan Appreciation game. The Panthers will have a special on-ice ceremony at the end of the game where 23 jerseys will be gifted right off the players backs to 23 PMHA players in attendance. An additional five jerseys will be gifted to five lucky fans.

“Both of these games are highly unusual for a junior club,” said GM Pete Zubersky.

“We were fortunate enough to win Hockeyville on the Peninsula a few years ago and now we can add the Rogers Hometown Hockey as a bit of a feather in our hats. And the PMHA third jersey game is always my favourite game of the season. The kids who win the jerseys are over the moon. We have done this since 1999 and I still see jerseys out on the ice at PMHA practices from a variety of years. It’s special.”

The Panthers are asking the fans to arrive a bit early for both games. Friday’s game is set to go at 7:30 p.m. while the Family Day starts at 1 p.m.

“We wanted to have an afternoon game so all the younger kids can attend and we are asking all PMHA players to wear their jerseys and sit with their teams. PMHA players, referees, executives, coaches and managers will be admitted free of charge.”